Retractable washer in cabinet



p 1949- F. BRECKENRIDGE 2,481,193

RETRACTABLE WASHER IN CABINET Filed March 27, T947 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

A 1122721 firec'fiezzrzcg ye p 1949- F. BRECKENRIDGE 2,481,193

RETRACTABLE WASHER IN CABINET Filed March 27, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

W ayezzi Sept 6, 1949.. F. BRECKENRIDGE RETRACTABLE WASHER IN CABINET 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 27, 1947 INVENTOR.

Q ZYi ing mechanisms was Patented Sept. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE RETRACTABLE WASHER IN CABINET Frank Breckenridge, Newton, Iowa Application March 27, 1947, Serial No. 737,463

8 Claims. (01. 68-22) This invention relates to domestic washing machines and particularly to a washer mounted in a retractable manner within a cabinet, whereby the complete unitary washing machine, including a standard wringer, may be raised to the level of the rim of the cabinet into exposed position for use and which, when out of use, may be lowered as a complete unit below the top rim of the cabinet where it may be covered by a flat lid which serves as a utility table top.

It has long been recognized that the standard wringer type washing machine is an awkward piece of apparatus in the home, particularly when stored and not in use. The upstanding exposed wringer extending as it does above the top of the tub practically precludes the use of the top of the washer as a table top, and also leaves the wringer exposed to dust, and dirt. It will be appreciated that the wringer rolls must be cleaned of dust and dirt before the housewife dares to use the wringer on the first batch of washing, which almost invariably is the supercritical table linen.

Many expedients have been suggested and tried whereby to eliminate this awkward upstanding exposed position of the wringer when the washing machine is stored. Hinged drain boards have been used to cover the rolls and thereby exclude dust and dirt, but these did not eliminate the upstanding awkward wringer and did not make pos sible the use of the washing machine as a table. Telescoping wringers have been used in many forms. Some have been telescoped down beside the tub. Others have been telescoped within the tub. Still others have been foldable to swing out of position, and several combinations of the above schemes have been tried. None of these structures have proven commercially acceptable for one or a combination of the following reasons:

(a) The telescoping apparatus added considerably to the cost of the washer and was troublesome to operate;

(b) The operation of the telescoping or foldconfusing and too complicated for the average housewife;

' Many mechanisms imposed simply too much physical efiort on the operator.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine which may be housed in a cabinet of standard kitchen table-top height and wherein a standard complete unitary washing machine mechanism including the conventional swinging wringer may be brought into operating position above the top of the cabinet, and whereby, after use, the complete unitary washing machine, with wringer in the same onerative relationship with the washing machine. may be lowered below the top of the cabinet and covered with a top of standard kitchen table he ght enabling the cabinet to be used as a utility table.

Another object is to mount a complete unitary washing mechanism including a swinging wringer within a standard height mechanismenclosing cabinet and to provide mechanism whereby the complete washing machine may be quickly and easily retracted within the cabinet and then quickly and conveniently raised as a complete unit above the rim of the cabinet into operating position.

And a further object is to provide means whereby the top of the washing machine may be sealed against the top of the cabinet when in operating position in order to prevent splashing of wash water into the cabinet and over the washing machine mechanism.

Other objects and advantages will be disclosed in the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my retractable washing machine as it would appear with the front half of the cabinet cut away to show the interior arrangement of the parts when the washing machine is in raised position for use;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view, similar to Fig. 1, showing the arrangement of the mecha nism when the washin machine is retracted within the cabinet and covered by the flat cabinet cover which serves as a utility table top; and

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, partially broken, showing the washing machine and wringer retracted within the cabinet in the manner otherwise shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, in particular to Fig. 1, reference numeral Ill indicates a standard washing machine tub which is conventionally mounted on a base ring H, the latter also supporting a standard motor operated gear drive mechanism l2. Drive mechanism I2 operates within the tub a conventional gyrator (not shown) as well as the drive mechanism for the wringer assembly I. The wringer is borne by wringer support tube l3 which extends upwardly from drive mechanism l2. The wringer assembly is standard in all respects and comprises conventional rolls and a swingable reverse gear head i5, which is fitted with conventional controls l5, l1 and I8, such controls being operable in the usual manner. The wringer assembly, being conventional, may be of a type other than that shown on the drawings, but best results may be had by use of a low type such as that illustrated, the dimensions of which permit the entire washing machine mechanism to be retracted, in the man ner shown in Fig. 2, into a cabinet of about inch height by a vertical retraction in the neighborhood of inches.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cabinet entirely encloses the entire washing machine mechanism in the retracted position of. the latter. The cabinet includes abase [9 in which there are pro vided conventiona1 sockets in which casters 2% are mounted. Uniformly spaced about tub iii are brackets 2| which carry resilient guide rollers 22, the latter serving to laterally guide the tub during its vertical movement and to. position the same in either raised or retracted position.

Two relatively large vertically extending 23, the upper portions .of which are attached'to the cabinet as at 24, 24 and the lower portions of which are attached to base ring Has shown, carry the entire weight of the'washing machine. The length, diameter and tension of springs 23, 23 is such that they are quite flexible. Their tension in their least extended position (when the washing machine is in non-retracted position) is such that a woman operator mayeasily' retract the washer into the cabinet by exerting only a moderate downward pressure on the top of the wringer.

To insure that the tub and associated mechanism will always maintain its proper position within the cabinet and also to provide means to effectively lock the tub in either extended or retracted position, the hereinafter described-suitable mechanism is provided; Two parallelarms 30, (Fig. 3) are each pivotedat one end to a transversely extending rod 30R; mounted on the cabinet sides. As shown in Figs. 1' and 2, at least one arm 39, opposite its connection to 30R, is pivotally connected to the upper end of'a link 28, the latter being pivoted at about its middle to a bracket 29 attached to base ring H.' At'its end opposite its'connection toarm 30, link: 28 is articulated with one end era-support link 21, one end of which'is articulated with a bracket 26 mounted on bracket 2|. Adjacent its connection with support link 2?, link 28 has mountedon it an outwardly directed support bracket 28L. Slightly exteriorly of link 28 and adapted for engagement in the manner hereinafterset forth with support bracket 28L, is a generally vertically extending latch link 3t, the lowerend' ofwhich is pivoted on cabinet base #9. Latch link 3! has a notch 3'IN (best seen mile. 2) cut into its free end and a hook-like recess. slL (bestiseen' in Fig. 1), cut into its inner edge. A ccnnectinglink'32 has its one end articulated with the medial portion of latch link 3! and its oppositeend is articulated with one end of a belFcrank-shaped foot:

pedal 33. Pedal 33 is pivotally'connected to. a bracket 34 mounted on the-cabinet. A helical tension spring 35 which extendsirorn-the-point of'pivotal connection between link 32 and foot pedal 33 to the point of pivotal connection between base l8 and latch link 3 l,'serves to constantly urge the latter in a clockwise direction.

As shown in Fig. 1, in the operating, position of the washer, the lower-surfacesofsupportbracket 28L are engaged within and firmly supported by notch MN; and, as shownin Fig. 2, in the retract-ed position of the washer mechanism the "uppersurfaces of support bracket 28L are engaged and retained by hook-like recess 3th. In the above described arrangement ot-parts, it will be diametrically opposed, helical tension springs. 23,

ii viewed from 4 obvious that downward pressure on foot pedal 33 will pivot latch link 3| in the direction of the pedal. Thus, when the washer mechanism is in the retracted position shown in Fig. 2, downward pressure on pedal 33 will release bracket 28L from its retention by recess ML. The cover or lid 40 being first preferably removed, the washer mechanism will rise under the urging of springs 23, 23 until bracket 28L automatically positions itself on the shoulder provided by notch 3lN, locking the tub and associated parts in extended, operating position.

It has been mentioned hereinabove that the wringer M is'of standard construction and that its positioning and arrangement with regard to the washer gear drive mechanism and tub is conventiorlal; Under these circumstances, it will be obvious that the wrinlrer is horizontally swingable to and lockable in a variety of positions. One operating position is that shown in Fig. 1 wherein, above (in manner not shown), the main portion of the wringer would at least partially extend outwardly of the lateral walls oi the cabinet. For retraction in unitary manner with the tub, wringer Ht isswingable diametrically oftub Hi in the manner best-shown in Fig. 3 and may be locked in that position. To retract the "washer mechanism, after thewringer has been swung as'indicated hereinbefore, downward pressure on foot pedal 33' will swing latch link 3| rearwardly, releasing bracket 28L from engagement with notch 3 IN. Downward pressure on the top'oi the wringer will force the entire washer and wringer mechanism vertically downwardly until, when the mechanism is iully retracted, bracket 28L becomes engaged by recess 3IL, which action w'nl lockthe washer and wrlnger mechanism in said fully retracted position.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 3, reference numeral 35 indicates the top of the washer mechanism-enclosing cabinet in which is providedan opening 38 permitting accessof the op erator to the washing machine tub. Opening 38 is generally annular throughout its major portion, and adjacent support tube I3 is formed arcuately protuberant to enclose the base of wringer reverse gear' l5. A rubber sealing gasket 31 is aflixed to the lip of opening 38to abut'the upper edges of tub H1 in its extended position and a ring-like extension thereof 39 (Fig. l) abuts and seals the base of thewringer reverse gear. mechanism, from entry of water during the washing operation. The non symmetrical generally planar cover Ml entirely fits and closes opening 38 and is so generally planar as to efiectively serve as a utility table top.

Although I have illustrated a. preferred embodimentof my invention it will be understood that many variations of the illustrated and described structures. may be employed without departing from the. spirit of the invention. I desire to explicitly explain and teach that my concept-of a retractable washing machine includes an integral standardwashing machine structureincluding a power driven wringer mounted and retained in. permanent operative relation to the washer mechanism. This concept specifies a standard integral washing machine wherein the utmost in efiiciency and economy is provided. I mount this. integral standard washing and wringing mechanism in a cabinet of a standard kitchen cabinet table height, which although somewhat higher than the standard washing machine height, I find. is most convenient to the operator .in that it reduces to a minimum the manual labor required for operating the wringer-and positions the wringer at a height corresponding to the height of the other equipment in the modern kitchen. I also provide easy-and convenient mechanism permitting the operator :to retract the machine into a lowered hidden position at which" its cabinet may be utilized as a kitchen table, and which; when it is'desired to use the machine for washing "purposes, removal" of "the cover and release of the mechanism retaining means permits the washer and' wringer to be raised into operating position with a minimum of efiort. "j

Having thus described 'my' invention, I new claim as new:

1. In a retractable washing machine, a cabinet enclosure for the washing machine, an integral washing machine mechanism including a tub and power driven wringer as a unit, a seal edge I on the top of the cabinet for abutting the top of the tub to seal the opening in the cabinet top when the wringer is in upper exposed operating position, and support mechanism attaching the integral washing machine unit within the cabinet including means to carry the washing machine mechanism from upper exposed operating position of the wringer above the rim of the cabinet to lowered stored position of the wringer within the cabinet.

2. In a retractable washing machine, a cabine enclosure for the washing machine, an integral washing machine mechanism including a tub and a power driven wringer as a unit, support mechanism attaching the integral washing machine unit within the cabinet including means to carry the washing machine mechanism from upper exposed operating position of the wringer above the rim of the cabinet to lowered stored position of the wringer within the cabinet, yieldable supports associated with the support mechanism to reduce the manual effort of shifting the washing machine mechanism to an exposed position of the wringer, and a seal edge in the top of the cabinet in position to abut the top of the tub to seal the opening in the cabinet top when the wringer is in upper exposed operating position.

3. In a washing machine, the combination with washing mechanism including a. power driven wringer in operative relation with the washing mechanism as a unit, of a cabinet enclosing the washing mechanism and of a size sufllcient to enclose the washing mechanism and wringer, said cabinet having an opening in the top thereof in position for slidable projection of the wringer therefrom, means mounting the washing mechanism and wringer for bodily vertical movement relative to the cabinet from an upper exposed operating position of the wringer above the cabinet to a lowered stored position of the wringer within the cabinet, said mounting means including yieldable supports for the washing mechanism and wringer normally tending to move the washing mechanism and wringer upward to project the wringer through the opening in the top of the cabinet, and latch means including a latch member mounted on the unit, a latch link mounted in the cabinet and having means in position for engagement with the latch member to hold the washing mechanism and wringer unit in one extreme position, and a manually actuated lever connected with the latch link for releasing said link from the latch member.

4. In a washing machine, the combination with washing mechanism including a power driven wringer in operative relation with the washcabinet to a lowered stored position of the wringer within the cabinet, said mounting means including yieldable supports for the washing mechanism and wringer normally tending to move the washing mechanism and wringer upward to project the wringer through the opening in the top of the cabinet, and latch means including a latch member mounted'on the unit, a latch link mounted in the cabinet and having means in position for engagement with the latch member to hold the washing mechanism and wringer unit in one extreme position, and a manually actuated lever connected with the latch link for releasing said link from the latch member, said latch link having notches in spaced portions thereof in positions to be engaged by the latch member in different positions of the washing mechanism adapted for alternately latching said washing mechanism respectively in the different positions thereof with respect to the cabinet.

5. In a washing machine, the combination with washing mechanism including a tub and a power driven wringer in operative relation with the washing mechanism as a unit, of a cabinet enclosing the washing mechanism and of a size suflicient to enclose the washing mechanism and wringer, said cabinet having an opening in the top thereof of a size appreciably smaller than the outer periphery of the tub in position for slidable projection of the wringer therefrom, means mounting the washing mechanism and wringer unit for bodily vertical movement relative to the cabinet from an upper exposed operating position of the wringer above the cabinet to a lowered stored position of the wringer within the cabinet, and means connected with the cabinet and surrounding the opening in t e top thereof in position for substantially sealing relation with the top of the tub when the washer and wringer unit is in the upper position of the wringer.

6. In a washing machine, the combination with washing mechanism, including a washing tub and a power driven wringer in operative relation with the washing mechanism as a unit, of a cabinet enclosin the washing mechanism and of a size sufiicient to enclose the washing mechanism and wringer, said cabinet having an opening in the top thereof in position for slidable projection of the wringer therefrom with the tub bottom in convenient operable position with respect to the wringer and below the opening, and means mounting the washing mechanism and wringer unit for bodily exposed operating position of the tub below the opening and the wringer above the cabinet to a lower stored position of the tub and wringer within the cabinet.

7. In a washing machine, the combination of a cabinet having an opening in the top thereof, a washing mechanism having a wringer operably mounted thereon as a unit within the cabinet, means mounting said washing mechanism in the cabinet for vertical movement within the cabinet from a lowered position with the wringer below the opening in the cabinet top to an upper operating position with the wringer above the opening, and abutment means carried by the cabinet about said opening in position'to engasexhe bop of the'washing tub-insaid uppernperatingrpartion of'th mechanism;

8. V In a washing 'machinepthe combination 'ofza cabinet having an opening: in thetop, thereof. aiwasning mechanism having a wringer operably mounted thereonas "aunit within the cabinet, means mounting said'washing mechanism ainrthe cabinetifor vertical movement within the cabinet from a lowered position with the wringerbelow the opening in the-cabinet toprto an upper: operating'position with the wringer-above the 0penmg; and an abutment carried by thez-ca'binet about said opening imposition-.120 engage the end of the washing tub to limit the upwardimovement; of said washingmechanismrelative theretu.

FRANK BRECKENRIDGE.

fKEFERENbES crmn Theioilowing r fgrences are-of record intfie fllot. this pat-cut;

v 1 I v .u m PATENTS Number Gross June 17, 1947 

